Insulating structure



Dec. 2, 1941. w. H. WELLS ETAL 2,264,685

INSULATING STRUCTURE Filed June 28, 1,940

Ara/0x72.

WITNESSES:

Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INSULATING STRUCTUREvania Application June 28, 1940, Serial No. 342,922

6 Claims.

Our invention relates to insulators and it has particular relation toinsulating structures for supporting large electrical equipment which ismaintained at a high electrical potential. Although not limited thereto,the invention is particularly applicable to structures for supportinglarge electrodes maintained at high voltages such as the high-voltageelectrode in equipment for breaking up or smashing atoms.

Such structures are generally built up of a number of smaller insulatorswhich are of porcelain or like material. Although these materials havebeen found to be the best available for such insualtors, they have aserious disadvantage in that they are relatively brittle and weak intension. Since different portions of large supporting structures of thetype in question are often subject to different temperatures, it hasbeen found that the insulators, when maintained in a rigid structure,are often subjected to excessive tensional and torsional stresses. Inorder to avoid these stresses, the invention provides a relativelyflexible supporting structure. The structure is made up of a pluralityof superimposed units, each of which includes a number of porcelaininsulators connected at the top and bottom to metallic connectingplates. These connecting plates are of a shape and size such that theyare relatively flexible in bending perpendicular to their planes and intorsion. A number of spacing members are disposed between the adjacentunits to provide a structure in which the stresses resulting fromtemperature differences will be taken up by the connecting plates ratherthan th insulators themselves.

It is accordingly an object of our invention to provide a novel andimproved insulating structure.

It is another object of our invention to provide an insulating structurewhich will not be subjected to excessive stresses when temperaturediiferences exist between various portions thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a large insulatingsupporting structure made up of ceramic insulators arranged to be freefrom excessive stresses despite various unfavorable conditions to whichthe structure may be exposed.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingin which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, with parts broken away, of aninsulating structure built in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 isa horizontal sectional View taken along the line 11-11 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, of a. portionof the device; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a portion of the structure showing theeffects of temperature difierences thereon.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, I

there is shown an insulating structure built up of a plurality of units,each of which includes a number of ceramic insulators l disposed betweena top connecting member 2 and a lower connecting member 3'. Theseinsulators are secured to the top and bottom plates by means of bolts 4and 5, respectively, and although four insulators are shown. in each.unit, the number may be varied, as: required by the size and weight ofthe equipment which is to be supported. The various units are preferablysuperimposed with the insulators I of diiferent units in alignment. Thelower unit is supported on standards 6 and spacing members 1 aredisposed between the top connecting member of each unit and the bottomconnecting plate of the unit immediately above. These spacing members. 1are shown as metallic discs or washers, but it will be evident that theymay be made in other shapes or of other materials if desired. As shownin the drawing, the members I are preferably disposed in line with theinsulators of the adjacent units. The top and bottom supporting members2 and 3 of adjacent units are secured together by bolts 3 which areshown approximately mid-way between the insulators I. If desired,additional spacing washers may be provided at 9 between the connectingmembers with the bolts 8 passing therethrough.

In Fig. 1, the structure is shown supporting a large high potentialelectrode E such as is provided in the equipment for breaking up orsmashing atoms. It is preferable that some of the equipment formaintaining the high potential required for such a device be locatedwithin the electrode, although for the sake of simplicity, a showing ofthis has been omitted from the drawing. The electrode is preferablysupported from an additional connecting member [0 by means of bracesindicated at H.

As is more clearly shown in 3, the insulators i are made up of ceramicmaterial to the ends of which metallic flanges ii are cemented orotherwise secured. These flanges are provided with apertures throughwhich bolts 4 and 5 extend. The bolts are screwed to correspondingthreaded apertures M in the connecting members 2 and 3. The connectingmembers 2, 3 and II! are preferably of a relatively thin metal which isrelatively flexible in torsion and in bending perpendicular to the planeof the member. While they are shown in Fig. 2 as being substantiallyring-shaped, under certain conditions, it may be desirable to make themsquare, rectangular, elliptical, or of some other shape. To providemaximum flexibility, it is preferable that they be apertured in thecenter when one of these other shapes is employed.

In Fig. 4, the effect of different temperatures in different portions ofthe supporting structure is exaggerated to show better the operation ofthe invention. In this case, the lower portion of the apparatus is at ahigher temperature than the upper portion. Because of the resilientarrangement, this temperature difference permits the connecting members2a and 3a to bend and twist without placing any material stress on theporcelain members I. The spacing members I may be slightly rounded ontheir upper surfaces to provide better seating'for the members 2a and 3awhen the structure is subjected to such unequal temperatures.Ordinarily, however, the deformation of the members is so small thatthis is unnecessary. It will be noted here that if the connecting bolts8 were located relatively close to the connections of the insulators tothe plates, there would result, in eifect, a rigid column of porcelain.Under such circumstances, the temperature differences would result indestructive tensional strain on the porcelain instead of being taken upby the connecting members.

From the above description, it will be evident that a number ofadvantages will be found in an insulating structure built in accordancewith the invention. Because of the connecting members being relativelystiff in their planes, lateral loads will be transmitted more or lessequally to all columns and will not set up excessive torsional stressdue to local deformations. In this structure stresses resulting frominaccuracies and errors in the fit of various parts or resulting fromimproper assembly will be minimized. Devices constructed as taught bythe invention will be found superior to structures built up to form alattice work of porcelain rods and columns since such built-uparrangements are subject to tensional stress due to lateral loads andunknown secondary bending moments.

A further advantage of the construction is that each unit of theprocelain column may be moved vertically by small amounts with respectto the others without setting up excessive stresses. This permits readyadjustment of the position of the electrode 9, a feature which isparticularly desirable in such equipment.

Although we have shown and described a particular embodiment of theinvention, it will be understood that various modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asset forth in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. An insulating structure comprising a plurality of superimposedinsulating units each of which includes a plurality of spaced insulatorssecured to top and bottom connecting members which are flexible intorsion, spacing means disposed between the top and bottom connectingmembers of adjacent units for supporting each unit on the unittherebelow, and. means for securing said top and bottom connectingmembers of adjacent units against relative lateral displacement.

2. An insulating structure comprising a plurality of superimposedinsulating units each of which includes a plurality of spaced insulatorssecured to top and bottom connecting plates flexible in torsion, spacingmeans disposed between the top and bottom connecting plates of adjacentunits for supporting each unit on the unit therebelow, and means atpoints displaced from the points of attachment of said connectingmembers to said insulators for connecting said top and bottom connectingplates of adjacent units together to prevent relative displacementtherebetween.

3. An insulating structure comprising a plurality of superimposedinsulating units each of which includes a plurality of spaced insulatorssecured to top and bottom connecting members, said connecting membershaving central apertures and being flexible in torsion, means disposedbetween adjacent top and bottom connecting members, of adjoining unitsfor supporting said units in vertically spaced relationship, and meansat points displaced from the points of attachment of said connectingmembers to said insulators for connecting said adjacent top and bottomconnecting members together.

4. An insulating structure comprising a plurality of superimposedinsulating units each of which includes a plurality of insulatorssubstantially equally spaced from each other and secured to top andbottom connecting rings, said rings being flexible in torsion, spacingmembers disposed between adjacent top and bottom rings of adjoiningunits at points substantially beneath the insulators of the upper ofsaid adjoining units, and means at points intermediate said spacingmembers for connecting said adjacent top and bottom rings together.

5. In an insulating structure for supporting an electrical device, aplurality of superimposed insulating units each of which includes aplurality of insulators substantially equally spaced from each other andsecured to top and bottom supporting rings, said rings being flexible intorsion, means disposed between adjacent top and bottom rings ofadjoining units at points substantially in line with said insulators forsupporting said units in vertically spaced relationship, and meansintermediate said spacing means for connecting said adjacent top andbottom. connecting rings together.

6. In an insulating structure, a plurality of superimposed insulatingunits each of which comprises a plurality of insulators secured at theirends to top and bottom supporting rings in horizontally spacedrelationship, said supporting rings being of normally flat relativelythin metal flexible in torsion in vertical planes including radiithereof, a plurality of members disposed between adjacent top and bottomrings of adjacent units in horizontally spaced relationship to supporteach unit upon the one therebelow in vertically spaced relationship, andmeans displaced from said spaced members for interconnecting said topand bottom rings.

WILLIAM H. WELLS. ARTHUR M. WAHL.

